Goals

I have been so lazy today and really should be doing things instead of surfing the web and eating a whole pint of blueberries. But we are having people move in with us for a bit and this is my last chance to be lazy in my jammies with no one around to watch. I do need to clean the carpets and some more baby proofing soon though.

After having a couple days to reflect on the show, I feel really good about where we are, we have a lot to learn but already have a good foundation to work with. Joy is such a fun horse.

So here are my goals

1- to do pilates or run everyday, I need to be stronger and more flexible.
2- to get a couple lessons in before the next show.
3- get to another horse trial, hopefully in August
4- improve Joy's dressage, at the show we got mostly 5s (acceptable) and 6s, I'm aiming for 6s and 7s
5- continue conditioning Joy on the trails
6- get out on fun rides with friends
7- Cut sugar out of my diet, I have no turn off switch with the white stuff and eat way to much of it. Not healthy!
8- Continue getting comfortable with jumping again
9- fix up trailer
10- Have fun!

Okay, now I am off to buy chicken food and rent a carpet cleaner, oh my exciting life!

Getting excited

We have ride times for Cobblestone! I think they will be really good for us, dressage late morning and cross country in the early afternoon with stadium the next day in the early afternoon. It sucks to drive out twice but is so much cheaper then getting a stall. Plus Joy can relax at home afterwards and that will be better for her anyway.

I have to get the truck registered today, really should have gotten on that first thing this morning. But I was super sleepy and slept in. I also need to get new tires put on the beast, maybe tomorrow, Hoping to get a schooling session in with my friend's trainer in on Thursday but that hinges on if we got everything done early, it will be ready for Saturday..

I went on a trail ride yesterday with eventer friends, we went swimming in the river and then to Dairy Queen. The weather was perfect, great company and we all had lots of fun. There were tons of people at the launch point with canoes and floaty thingys so walking the horses to the river was good desensitizing. The horses were all really good and Joe built a chicken fence while we were gone :)

Joy has been getting a wet mouth when we ride now, recently started and it's surprising because she never used to. She is also connecting through the back and yielding to the bit way more then she used to. I rode her a couple days ago and was wondering why she felt on the forehand and then realized she was just stretching into contact like a good girl.

I also am borrowing a saddle that might work for jumping, it is a Wintec and still slides up a bit but she seemed to like it and it is way better then my Collegiate all purpose that pinches her shoulders.

I had better get to it, I have a list of errands a mile long.

Rainy rainy rain

Dear Rain,
Please go away, come again another day, I want to go outside and paint.
Love, Ruth

Eventually the weather might get nice and I can do things outside without getting drenched! It has been a weird spring, either cold and rainy or hot and humid with little in between. I have painting fantasies but I have to wait until we get some dry days. We just helped put the garden in yesterday, it was good fun playing in the dirt and I am excited to have fresh veggies again.

 Went to an event yesterday and got to be a horse show mom for a friend, it was good fun. Also helpful experience to see an event in action, honestly not much different then the shows I am used to, just more spread out and you have to keep good track of the time since there isn't one central arena. I feel Joy and I will be ready for our eventing debut soon. Baxter (Joy's boyfriend) was a good boy so I fed him lots of cookies, it was a very important part of my horse show slave girl duties. It is so nice to see the horses there loving their jobs. A horse got loose and ran around like mad before zooming off across the fields! I have never seen a loose horse behave like that and just take off away from their buddies and the people, I don't know when they caught him but he was at a dead gallop across the corn and hay fields.

 My babies are coming on Wednesday and Thursday, We have the coop fairly ready but I would like to get everything totally set well in advance in case of disaster. Going to be getting 87 chickies! Likely will love them for the first week and then get over it.

Rode Joy on Saturday, she was awesome, had a great conditioning trail ride in the rain. SO nice to feel her so forward and balanced, after I set my proper arena up I hope to work on some good solid dressage stuff. I am hoping to convince people to come ride with me,can't wait to take the horses swimming in the river again.

bad Ruth, stop looking at TBs! no more ponehs for you!

Ok, stuffs to do!